Syncing two computers

[zanzibarbob7]

I have a desktop and a laptop, both on the same wireless router. I am want to be able to sync both computers, exchange data on both, like is done with my PDA. I plug it in and the syncing operation takes place. I'm running Windows XP Pro on both computers.

Question is, what software is best to handle that task? I want both computers to be up to date and when I return home with my laptop to sync the data back to my desktop and vice versa. I don't get much help from the local stores and figured that many of you are doing this already.

Thanks,

[ron.sanpedro]

I have a desktop and a laptop, both on the same wireless router. I am want to be able to sync both computers, exchange data on both, like is done with my PDA. I plug it in and the syncing operation takes place. I'm running Windows XP Pro on both computers.

Question is, what software is best to handle that task? I want both computers to be up to date and when I return home with my laptop to sync the data back to my desktop and vice versa. I don't get much help from the local stores and figured that many of you are doing this already.

Thanks,

I have used ViceVersa Pro (http://www.tgrmn.com/) to do a one way mirror for a disk to disk to tape backup scheme, and it worked very well. It also offers a bi-directional sync mode, which should work fine as long as you never modify the same file on both machines. This is always the downfall of syncing two machines. You forget to do it and edit something in both places.
One thing I would recommend is to do a wired sync the first time. Unless you are starting from two blank machines, there is likely to be a lot of data the first time. After that, VV Pro only syncs the files that have changed, so the bandwidth needs are much lower. I know of some offices who have synced server data over USB to an external drive, then taken the drive home and continued to sync via VPN. A 10 person architecture firm can sync a days worth of work off-site in an hour. Pretty slick.

Best,
Gordon

[Andre Baros]

It depends on how complicated you want to get... I use the windows briefcase tool to do this. I create a briefcase on my laptop for each project and manually "sync" it each time I reconnect. Since I have a lot less room on my laptop this makes it easy for me to be selective about which data is on it, and since I can sync on a project by project basis I can save time when I'm in a hurry by avoiding projects which I don't need portable right now.

[zanzibarbob7]

Gordon, Andre,

Thanks for the advice. I had looked at Vice Versa initially, then in greater detail after your comment. Looks like what I might need, pending another direction that might be offered here. Much of it boils down to the time to educate oneself on new software. I'm stretched out like a red worm the way it is and the investigation into what works and what doesn't, knowing well that you are taking time away from something that warrants your attention, is frustrating. AUGI certainly is a valuable resource. If nothing else is offered here that will be the way I go.

Thanks,

[Andrew Dobson]

I have a desktop and a laptop, both on the same wireless router. I am want to be able to sync both computers, exchange data on both, like is done with my PDA. I plug it in and the syncing operation takes place. I'm running Windows XP Pro on both computers.

Question is, what software is best to handle that task? I want both computers to be up to date and when I return home with my laptop to sync the data back to my desktop and vice versa. I don't get much help from the local stores and figured that many of you are doing this already.

Thanks,

Try Synctoy from Microsoft it works really well (and its completely free!)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...o/synctoy.mspx

[Fred Blome]

I use Beyond Compare http://www.scootersoftware.com/ to sync laptop and office, via local network or VPN or USB drive. It will remember your various setups, ie paths, passwords, exclusions, etc.

[gwnelson]

Another option might be FOLDER SHARE - & it works great for accessing from remote locations.

[zanzibarbob7]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realize there so many options.

[cphubb]

We just use the ofline folders option. It works well but you have to clear the offline folders and recreate them often or you can get errors. The only other drawback is Access (.mdb) files will not sync. (BTW it is free and in XP

[Scott D Davis]

We just use the ofline folders option. It works well but you have to clear the offline folders and recreate them often or you can get errors. The only other drawback is Access (.mdb) files will not sync. (BTW it is free and in XP

Be careful with Offline folders...they sync both ways without warning. Scenario: a user syncs his offline folder on his laptop, goes home to work, and later decideds "I don't need all those files on my laptop any longer, so I'll just delete them." Goes back to work the next day, hooks up to the network, and Poof! All files deleted on the laptop get deleted off the network.